Department for Transport

Bus Services: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) complaints have been made about and (b) investigations have been conducted into bus companies by the North East Traffic Commissioners in each year since 2010; and what enforcement action has been taken as a result following each such complaint or investigation.

Andrew Jones: The Traffic Commissioner for the North Eastern Traffic Area role is defined in the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 and is a regulatory role as opposed to an investigatory role. When complaints regarding the operation of Public Service Vehicles are received they are forwarded to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) who may carry out an investigation and provide a report to the Traffic Commissioner, should concerns be identified. Complaints and investigations may relate to issues of vehicle maintenance, driver behaviour or the reliability of local bus services. The Traffic Commissioner can request that DVSA conduct an investigation or DVSA may carry out an investigation under their own initiative. Between April 2010 and March 2015, 91 complaints have been received by the Traffic Commissioner relating to PSV operators.The table below shows the number of public inquiries held between April 2010 and March 2015 at which the Traffic Commissioner considered regulatory action against the holder of a PSV operator’s licence.2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15TotalNumber of public inquiries completed1926193550149Licence revocations710792558Licence suspensions0423312Reduction of vehicles authorised on licence3342214Other conditions imposed on licence003306Formal warning given897111247Disqualification of licence holder under the  1985  Act0124411No action taken2127618Penalty imposed under Section 155 of the  2000  Act100001Note: the figures in the last 8 rows may not equal the number of public inquiries held, as more than one action may betaken against a licence holder.DVSA started to investigate Bus complaints, under the BOAM (Bus Operator Account Management) scheme in 2012. The first recorded compliant is dated 04/01/13. The BOAM scheme covers complaints for late and early running services, under the Traffic Commissioner’s statuary guidance of up to 1 minute early and 5 minutes late. If a service fails to operate or if the services either cuts short a route or diverts from a route.Between 2012 up to the present date DVSA received, 97 complaints. Out of those complaints DVSA investigated 94. Three complaints did not fall under BOAM, so were not investigated.12 complaints were referred to the Office of the Traffic Commissioners once the complaint was investigated.

Bus Services: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost has been of the North East Traffic Commissioners Quality Contact Scheme board to date.

Andrew Jones: The Quality Contract Scheme Board (QCSB) that was convened to consider the proposed Quality Contract Scheme for Tyne and Wear published their report in accordance with the Transport Act 2000 on 3 November 2015.The cost incurred by QCSB in fulfilling their statutory obligation to date is £206,088. This figure should not increase significantly as the report has now been published.

Aviation: Passengers

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will support Jet2.com's Onboard Together campaign to reduce disruptive behaviour on aircraft.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Last month I met with the management of Jet2.com to discuss their work on reducing disruptive behaviour on aircraft. The Government supports the aviation industry’s efforts to find solutions to the issue of disruptive passengers. The Government encourages collaboration across the industry to tackle the problem, including airlines, airports, retail outlets and the police working together to ensure consistent approach and messaging.

Taxis: Disability

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of how many taxi drivers have undergone disability awareness training since the Law Commission's recommendation on that subject published in its report, Taxi and Private Hire Services, on 23 May 2014.

Andrew Jones: The results of the Department’s taxi survey in 2015 showed that 103 licensing authorities in England and Wales out of 313 responding authorities require taxi drivers to undergo disability awareness training. This compares to 67 licensing authorities in 2009 from 276 responses.We do not keep statistics on the number of drivers who have undergone disability awareness training since May 2014.

Cycling

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will expand the Cycle to Work salary-sacrifice scheme to provide employees with access to tax-free physical activity accessories and personalised activity plans for themselves and their families.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Finance Act 1999 and the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 introduced an annual tax exemption, which allows employers to loan cycles and cyclists' safety equipment to employees as a tax-free benefit. The Cycle to Work scheme is not run by Government but was created by the cycle industry to take advantage of the tax exemption. The Department, in co-operation with the then Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the cycle industry, published guidance in June 2005. As there are qualifying criteria in order to be eligible for the tax exemption, any changes to the scheme should be referred to HM Revenue and Customs.

Cycling and Walking

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the consultation on the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy will not take place until spring 2016.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The first Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy will consist of a number of distinct elements that need to be produced prior to formal consultation. My Department has already begun work on these elements which will include a Statement of Funds Available and a National Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, as well as establishing appropriate governance arrangements. Although the formal consultation will not be till the spring, we are engaging with stakeholder groups throughout development.

Railways: South West

Johnny Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information he holds on whether Sir Peter Hendy's review of Network Rail's programme plans will consider extending electrification to Plymouth and the South West Peninsula.

Claire Perry: The Secretary of State for Transport asked the new Chair of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy Review to review the enhancements programme as detailed in the Network Rail’s Control Period 5 (2014-2019) Rail Enhancement’s Delivery Plan. This did not include the electrification to Plymouth and the South West Peninsula. Electrification of this route is expected to be considered as part of the future strategy for the railway.

Bus Services: Disability

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of buses are low-floor buses; and what change in bus usage there has been as a result of introducing low-floor buses.

Andrew Jones: The proportion of buses run with an accessibility certificate or low floor access is published in table BUS0603, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/463858/bus0603.xlsThe latest statistics show that, as at 31 March 2015, 96% of buses run by local bus operators in England have an accessibility certificate or low floor access, compared to 81% in 2009/10.We have not assessed what change in bus use there has been as a result of the introduction of low floor buses. Changes in patronage may be influenced by a number of factors, including availability, cost and performance as well as factors such as accessibility.

Taxis

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of how much UK households spent on taxi and private hire vehicle journeys in 2013-14.

Andrew Jones: The average weekly expenditure per household on ‘taxis and hired cars with drivers’ was an estimated £1.10 in 2013, the latest year for which figures are available. By way of context, the equivalent figure in 2008 was also £1.10.

Railways: South East

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the effect on Eastbourne's local economy of potential reductions in connectivity of future rail projects along the South Coast; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: No plans for reducing rail services to/ from Eastbourne are being considered by the Government or rail industry.In developing its successive rail investment strategies and specifying rail franchises, the Government carefully considers the impacts on local economies.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Local Government: Art Works

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the value of artwork and antiques held by local authorities.

Mr Marcus Jones: The information requested is not available.However, the Department does collect information about total heritage assets held by local authorities which includes museum and gallery collections and works of art, as well as historical buildings, archaeological sites, military and scientific equipment of historical importance, historic motor vehicles, recordings of significant historical events etc.The latest local authority figures that have been published are for 2013-14 and can be found in the drop down table entitled “Capital outturn return (COR5) 2013 to 2014 receipts and fixed assets for England” at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-capital-expenditure-and-financing-in-england-2013-to-2014-individual-local-authority-data

First Time Buyers

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the projected average age of a first time buyer in 2020.

Brandon Lewis: My Department does not produce forecasts of the average age of first time buyers.The number of first time buyers is the highest for 7 years.We are committed to turning Generation Rent into Generation Buy which is why this Government is committed to extending opportunities for homeownership. Since 2010, over 230,000 people have been helped to buy a home using government-backed schemes. The voluntary deal with the housing association sector means that 1.3 million housing association tenants will be given the Right to Buy.

Housing: Sales

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to allow local councils to ban overseas and off-plan sales.

Brandon Lewis: We have actively encouraged the property industry to ensure that homes for sale are marketed in the United Kingdom, and not solely overseas.The Coalition Government took action to tackle tax avoidance and ensure that those individuals who ‘envelope’ UK residential properties, by owning or purchasing them through corporate structures without a commercial purpose, pay a fair share of tax. We also introduced capital gains tax on future gains made by non-residents disposing of UK residential property.The Mayor of London has launched a Mayoral Concordat where signatories commit to marketing new homes on every development to Londoners before, or at the same time as, they are available to overseas buyers.But overseas investment in new housing can be crucial in providing the finance that is needed to build new homes. Non residents purchasing and occupying a house in the UK contribute to the tax system, just as residents do, through stamp duty, land tax and council tax.

Bus Services: Tyne and Wear

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on proposed devolution deals of the Quality Control Scheme Board's decision to not recommend the re-franchising of bus services in Tyne and Wear.

James Wharton: The Quality Contract Scheme Board’s report concerns an individual case brought under existing legislation. It is not about the bus franchising powers which will be included in the Buses Bill.The Government is determined that local transport authorities with ambitious plans to grow and develop should be given the powers they need, and we will legislate through the Buses Bill to deliver on that ambition.

HM Treasury

Offshore Industry: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of fiscal support for the offshore oil and gas sector on (a) employment and (b) pay rates in that sector since 2010-11.

Damian Hinds: The government is committed to maximising the benefits of the UK’s oil and gas resources for the UK economy - the oil and gas industry is the UK’s largest industrial investor, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, supplying a large portion of the UK’s primary energy needs and making a significant contribution to GDP.The government has taken action as part of our plan to reform the fiscal regime to make it an attractive destination for investment and safeguard the long-term future of this vital national asset. In the March Budget, the government announced a £1.3 billion package of measures which are expected to deliver over £4 billion of additional investment, supporting jobs and supply chain opportunities, and increase production by 15% by 2019-20, the equivalent of 0.1% of GDP.

Tax Allowances: Offshore Industry

Grahame Morris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which companies have signed decommissioning relief deeds with his Department.

Grahame Morris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many decommissioning relief deeds relating to decommissioning activity in the UK Continental Shelf have been signed to date; and what the total value of such deeds is to the (a) public purse and (b) decommissioning industry.

Damian Hinds: At Budget 2013, the government announced it would begin signing decommissioning relief deeds. These deeds represent a new contractual approach to provide oil and gas companies with certainty on the level of tax relief they will receive on future decommissioning costs.Since October 2013, the government has entered into 72 decommissioning relief deeds. Oil & Gas UK estimates that these deeds have so far unlocked more than £3.5bn of capital, which can now be invested elsewhere.The government committed to report to Parliament every year on progress with the deeds. The report for financial year 2014-15 can be found at:http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2015-07-21/HCWS162/.The government does not publish the names of companies with which it has entered into decommissioning relief deeds as this information is commercially sensitive.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

India: Travel Information

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will update the travel advice regarding the Punjab on his Department's website to advise travellers to give serious consideration to not travelling until the situation in that region stabilises.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office reviews travel advice on a regular basis and we have updated the travel advice for India to reflect the situation on the ground in Punjab. Whilst the situation in Punjab has eased since October, calls for further protests continue. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and update travel advice accordingly.

Cabinet Office

USSR: Intelligence Services

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library a copy of the 1984 Joint Intelligence Committee paper JIC(84)(N)45, entitled Soviet Union: concern about a surprise NATO attack.

Mr Oliver Letwin: It would not be appropriate to release this report on grounds of National Security.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Students: Loans

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations or advice he has received on the expectation of current students and graduates to repay their student loans under the terms of the current scheme.

Joseph Johnson: A consultation on freezing the student loan repayment threshold closed on the 14th October. Responses are being analysed and we will publish the Government’s response in due course.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Families

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to embed the family test into its policy making.

Anna Soubry: The Family Test is an integral part of the policy making process and is applied in a proportionate way in the development of all new policy in line with the Family Test guidance, published by DWP –https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368894/family-test-guidance.pdf.

Gratuities

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent estimate he has made of the number of employees who receive payment of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges through their employer; and in what industries such employees work.

Nick Boles: The Government has not made a recent estimate of the number of employees who receive payment of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges through their employer.The Government launched a call for evidence in this area which closed on 10th November. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will analyse responses and make public the key findings in due course.

Higher Education: Part-time Education

Roger Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what change there has been in the number of part-time higher education students in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in the last five years for which figures are available.

Joseph Johnson: The Higher Education Statistics Agency collects and publishes statistics on students enrolled at UK Higher Education Institutions. The information requested is published in table 1a of the annual Statistical First Release “Enrolments and Qualifications in Higher Education”, which is available at the following link: https://hesa.ac.uk/sfr210.

Fireworks

Nigel Huddleston: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what powers are available to local authorities to restrict the use of fireworks.

Anna Soubry: Restrictions on the use of fireworks already exist under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 and are enforced by the police. Beyond this, excessive noise from fireworks can be considered a statutory nuisance under Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Act gives local authorities powers to prevent or abate noise nuisance coming from premises and land.

Eyesight: Diseases

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of medical research spending is directed toward eye disease.

Joseph Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 19 November 2015 to Question UIN 14200.

Department for Education

First Aid: Education

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage schools to teach (a) CPR and (b) other life-saving methods.

Edward Timpson: All schools are required to teach a balanced and broadly based curriculum that prepares them for adult life. The new national curriculum focuses on the essential knowledge so that teachers can design a wider school curriculum that best meets the needs of their pupils.Many schools already choose to include CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillator awareness as part of their PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) teaching. The non-statutory PSHE Programme of Study produced by the PSHE Association, teaches young people how to recognise and follow health and safety procedures, ways of reducing risk and minimising harm in risky situations, and how to use emergency and basic first aid.Many schools also make use of organisations such as the Red Cross and St John Ambulance, to provide information to young people about first aid and dealing with emergencies.The British Heart Foundation has offered to provide free CPR training kits to every secondary school in the country, allowing young people to gain first-hand experience of this important life-saving skill. We have promoted this kit to schools through the all schools termly email and social media channels and we expect many schools to take up this offer.

Children's Play

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provision of play opportunities for children with disabilities and complex needs.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the report from Sense, The case for play, published 22 June 2015; and what the implications of that report are for her Department's policies.

Edward Timpson: Play has an important role in supporting all young children to develop and prepare for later learning. The importance of play is recognised in the Early Years Foundation Stage framework[1], which states: “Each area of learning and development must be implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity. Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, to think about problems, and relate to others. Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults.”Early Years educators and Early Years teachers are required to have an understanding of different pedagogical approaches, including the role of play in supporting early learning and development. It is for individual schools and settings to provide opportunities for play for their children and pupils, including those with special educational needs.We welcome the report published by Sense and their continuing efforts to support deafblind children and young people.[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2

Free Schools

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what amount her Department has spent to date on underwriting salaries of staff at free schools whose schools did not open or open on time.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will list all the free school projects that have been withdrawn or cancelled to date; and what the cost to the public purse was of the withdrawal or cancellation of each such project.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education does not have a full breakdown of revenue spent on staff salaries for proposed free school projects.The total pre-opening expenditure for free school projects is published on GOV.UK:www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-expenditure-for-free-schoolsWe will shortly update this information to include projects that opened or were withdrawn or cancelled up to September 2015.

Teachers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) recruit more teachers and (b) otherwise ensure that schools do not experience a shortage of teaching staff.

Nick Gibb: Teaching continues to be a hugely popular career. There are more teachers in England's classrooms than ever and record levels of high quality graduates are entering the profession. There are now 454,900 full time equivalent teachers, an increase of 5,200 from 2014 and 13,100 from 2010.Teacher recruitment remains a challenge as the economy improves. The Government has increased Scholarships and bursaries and for the best qualified graduates in priority subjects. We have also supported the growth of Teach First and announced a £67m package to recruit an additional 2,500 mathematics and physics teachers to improve the knowledge and skills of 15,000 existing teachers. For 2016/17, initial teacher training providers will have freedom to recruit as many trainees as they need within limited controls.The School Direct training route has been allocated over 17,500 training places this year, representing 40 per cent of all training places. We are also supporting schools to retain good teachers by improving pupil behaviour, tackling unnecessary workload and increasing pay flexibility.We are also creating a National Teaching Service (NTS). By 2020 this will have placed 1,500 high-performing teachers and middle leaders in underperforming schools in areas of England that struggle to recruit or retain high quality teachers. A pilot NTS scheme, starting in North West England in September 2016, will aim to attract 100 teachers and middle leaders into the region.

Classroom Assistants: Pay

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a national pay scale for teaching assistants.

Nick Gibb: The government believes that decisions on the use, deployment, and pay of teaching assistants are best made in a way that reflects local needs.Support staff rates of pay are determined by employers: in maintained schools, these will be set by the local authority; in Academies and Free Schools, these will be set by school or the Trust.

Children's Play

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the ease of access of play opportunities for children with disabilities and complex needs.

Edward Timpson: Play has an important role in supporting all young children to develop and prepare for later learning. The importance of play is recognised in the Early Years Foundation Stage framework[1], which states: “Each area of learning and development must be implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity. Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, to think about problems, and relate to others. Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults.”Early Years educators and Early Years teachers are required to have an understanding of different pedagogical approaches, including the role of play in supporting early learning and development. It is for individual schools and settings to provide opportunities for play for their children and pupils, including those with disabilities and complex educational needs.In addition, the Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination against disabled children in their access to goods, facilities and services, which could include ‘play’. For example it would be unlawful to refuse or inhibit a disabled child’s access to a local playground; their enrolment at a local nursery or playgroup; or their taking part in any other play activities such as local sports. Where applicable, the Act requires service providers to make both requested and anticipatory ‘reasonable adjustments’ that will facilitate the participation of disabled children in all forms of ‘play’.[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2

Foster Care

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to expedite the process for fostering a child.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average length of time was for the process of fostering a child in each constituent part and county of the UK in each of the last three years.

Edward Timpson: As this is a devolved matter we can only provide information for England.Between 2013 and 2015, the government invested £900,000 to support local authorities and their partners in recruiting and retaining the foster carers they need to ensure that there is a range of placement options available to meet the needs of local looked-after children. In 2013, the government streamlined and strengthened the assessment and approval process for foster carers in England. The government introduced a two-stage process to ensure efficiency and transparency. The expected timeframe for approving a person wishing to become a foster carer is eight months but this can vary depending on individual circumstances.Information on the average duration of foster placements that ceased in England in the year ending 31 March 2014 is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption--2 .Information on the average duration of foster placements that ceased in England in the year ending 31 March 2013 is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptionInformation on the average duration of foster placements that ceased in England in the year ending 31 March 2012 is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-by-local-authorities-in-england-including-adoption.Analysis of the average duration of foster placements has not been undertaken below national level.

Physical Education

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase the breadth of physical activity opportunities beyond sport available to children (a) in and (b) out of school.

Edward Timpson: We want all children to lead healthy and active lives. The government will publish a new sports strategy by the end of 2015. The strategy will set out how the government intends to support young people to participate in, and engage with sport and physical activity.Schools can offer a variety of opportunities for children to be physically active. Physical education (PE) is a compulsory subject at all four Key Stages in the national curriculum for maintained schools. The curriculum sets out the expectation that pupils should be physically active for sustained periods of time. Teachers have the flexibility to organise and deliver a range of activities.Through the Primary PE and Sport Premium, the government has committed over £450m of ring-fenced funding to primary schools to improve the quality of their PE and sport provision.Other programmes focused on increasing physical activity include Change4Life Sports Clubs and the Young Ambassador Peer Leaders programme. Change4Life Sports Clubs aim to increase the physical activity, health and wellbeing of the least active children through healthy lifestyle activities. In May 2015, an independent evaluation on Change4Life Primary Clubs found that around 270,000 children participated in Change4Life Primary Clubs over the lifetime of the programme (2011/12 – 2014/15). Young Ambassadors are primary and secondary pupils who promote physical activity across their school and lead activities with their less active peers.Outside of school, more than 385,000 families signed up to the Change4Life 10 Minute Shake Up summer campaign and over 700,000 children participated. The campaign encouraged children to team up with some of their favourite Disney characters and enjoy 10 Minute Shake Up activities to keep them healthy and physically active.The government is also keen to encourage more pupils to walk to school. Statutory guidance for local authorities on travel and transport to school was published in July 2014. Local authorities have a duty to promote the use of sustainable travel and transport and to develop a strategy for sustainable local travel.

Children: Autism

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support services available to carers and parents when a child is diagnosed with autism.

Edward Timpson: The Children and Families Act 2014 introduced significant reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system which will better support children and young people with autism in the education system, and provide support to their parents and carers.In particular, local authorities must do the following, in accordance with statutory requirements: local authorities must consider the views, wishes, or feelings of the child, young person, and the child’s parents. Local authorities must have a view to the importance of the child or young person, and the child’s parents, participating as fully as possible in decisions, and being provided with the information and support necessary to enable participation in those decisions. Local authorities must consider the need to support the child or young person, and the parents, in order to facilitate the development of the child or young person and to help them achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes, preparing them effectively for adulthood. Local authorities must assess the needs of parent carers of children with disabilities, if they judge support is needed or if a parent carer asks for their needs to be assessed. And local authorities must publish a Local Offer of SEND services by local authorities, which will help parents to identify what support is available.The Department has contracted with the Autism Education Trust this year to deliver autism training to education professionals. The Trust has now trained approaching 80,000 education staff since 2012. The Department is also providing grant funding for two additional projects this year: one by the National Autistic Society to provide information and advice to parents and professionals on exclusions, and one by Ambitious about Autism on strategies for supporting transition from school to college.The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to assess the support needs of carers.Clinical Commissioning Groups are commissioning services to support the health needs of children and young people with autism. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines CG170 Autism in under 19s: support and management provides advice on the care and management of children and young people with autism for health services (http://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/CG170). The NICE guidance in particular highlights the need for short breaks and other respite care for families. All local authorities are required to provide a range of short break services for disabled children and young people, and to publish a short breaks statement explaining what is available locally and how it can be accessed. Between 2011-12 and 2014-15, £800 million has been made available to local authorities for short breaks.

Ministry of Justice

Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2015 to Question 9384, on Reoffenders, if he will list the offences committed by those people numbered in the violence against the person category.

Andrew Selous: A fixed-term recall is used only in respect of offenders who are assessed as not posing a risk of serious harm to the public at the point at which they would be re-released automatically. A fixed term recall will not be given in cases where an offender has been charged with a further serious offence, such as a sexual or violent offence or where an offender’s behaviour suggests that he presents a risk of serious harm to the public. Such offenders would receive a standard recall, which means they are liable to remain in prison until the end of their sentence In appropriate cases, a fixed-term recall allows preventative measures to be put in place to stop the offender breaching their licence again The table below provides a list of the offences committed by 546 offenders who received a fixed term recall in 2014 and who were serving a sentence for violence against the person.Violence against the personMurderManslaughterOther and attempted homicideWoundingAssaultsOther violence against the person

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: EU Law

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which regulations his Department introduced as a result of EU legislation in (a) 2013, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015 to date; which regulations his Department expects to implement as a result of EU legislation in (i) 2016 and (ii) 2017; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each such regulation to the (A) public purse and (B) private sector.

Mr Edward Vaizey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 15037.

Radio Biafra

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has received representations from the Nigerian government on the licensing of Radio Biafra.

Mr Edward Vaizey: We have received no representations from the Nigerian government about Radio Biafra.

Telecommunications Cables: Seas and Oceans

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential risks to undersea internet and telephony cables; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government continually assesses a range of possible risks to the UK’s infrastructure, and arrangements are in place across Government and industry to ensure the ongoing resilience and availability of services.

Horse Racing: Betting

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the financial effect on the Horserace Levy Scheme of betting operators locating their online services off-shore; and if he will make a statement.

Tracey Crouch: The Government remains committed to replacing the current levy system to create a level playing field for British based and offshore gambling operators.

Horse Racing: Betting

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress his Department has made on plans to introduce a Horserace Betting Right; and if he will make a statement.

Tracey Crouch: Work is continuing on the detailed policy design of the Horserace Betting Right. We will make an announcement in due course.

Radio: Broadcasting

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps are taken by (a) his Department and (b) Ofcom to investigate objections to the content of a UK-licenced radio station made by a foreign government.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Any complaint made by a foreign government about a television or radio station that is licensed in the UK is a matter for Ofcom to deal with.Ofcom will apply the same procedures that they use for evaluating any other complaint. Those procedures are available from Ofcom's website at:http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/complaints-sanctions/standards/

Broadband: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to increase the availability of superfast broadband in (a) Warrington North constituency, (b) Culcheth and (c) Burtonwood.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Warrington, Culcheth and Burtonwood are covered by the Connecting Cheshire project. Over 62,000 homes and businesses in Cheshire have been upgraded to superfast broadband as a result of the project and we expect coverage to reach over 95 per cent in Cheshire by the end of 2017. It is estimated that the Warrington North constituency will have 98 per cent of premises able to connect to superfast by the end of the programme. Data is not collected below this scale.

Television: Licensing

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the withdrawal of Government funding of free TV licenses from the over 75 on future availability of such free licences.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government is committed to protecting pensioner benefits for the entire period of this Parliament, and the agreement to transfer responsibility for over-75s TV licences to the BBC makes no change to that commitment. People who are over 75 will still receive a free TV licence under the terms of this.

Broadband

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of households which have access to superfast broadband in (a) St Helen North constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) the UK.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Ofcom reported in its Strategic Review of Digital Communications in July 2015 that Superfast broadband is available to over 83 per cent of homes and businesses in the UK. The UK Government aims to increase this to 95 per cent of UK homes and businesses by 2017. Ofcom has not published data for Merseyside or at constituency level, however data for the five Local Authorities constituting Merseyside: Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, St. Helens and Knowsley is published here:http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/infrastructure/2014/Fixed_local_authority.csv.

Broadband

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the time taken to (a) implement broadband roll-out and (b) tackle non-spots on people and businesses in (i) St Helens North constituency, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) the UK.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government is committed to achieving the availability of superfast broadband to 95% of UK premises by December 2017. In May 2015 superfast coverage had reached 83% of UK premises.Of the 44,815 premises in the St Helens North constituency we estimate that 94% will have superfast broadband available to them through planned commercial rollout. The Connected Merseyside project will add a further 4% to that total.Telefonica (O2) have agreed a licence obligation to deliver indoor 4G coverage to 98% of premises in the UK by 2017; other Mobile Network Operators have indicated that they will also match this commitment.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Public Expenditure

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of his Department's expected DEL underspend in 2015-16; what his Department's current forecast for AME expenditure is in 2015-16; and what that forecast was at the time of the (a) Summer Budget 2015 and (b) March Budget 2015.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department does not publish full year DEL and AME forecasts. During the year, expenditure to date is published on the government's transparency website (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-transactions-over-25000-2015-16). At the end of the financial year, the Annual Report and Accounts will be published detailing actual expenditure for the year.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be in receipt of legacy benefits and awaiting transfer to universal credit in May 2020.

Priti Patel: As quoted in the Public Accounts Committee report (attached below), the bulk of legacy claims will be transferred by the end of 2019.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmpubacc/810/81002.htm

Social Security Benefits: Adult Education

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of (a) employment and support allowance and (b) jobseeker's allowance are taking adult education courses paid for by his Department.

Priti Patel: Benefit claimants who receive Employment and Support Allowance in the work-related activity group or Jobseeker’s Allowance may be required to participate in activity to improve their skills as a condition of receiving benefit. This policy is known as Skills Conditionality. The latest DWP data on the number of claimants referred to skills-related support under this policy is also available on GOV.UK:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/pre-work-programme-support-mandatory-programmes-may-2011-to-feb-2015

Housing Benefit

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new claims for housing benefit were made by people who lost their homes to repossession in each of the last 10 years.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested regarding the number of new claims for housing benefit were made by people who lost their homes due to repossessions in each of the last 10 years is not available.

Housing: Government Assistance

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of claims for (a) support for mortgage interest and (b) housing benefit was in each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested regarding the average length of claims for support for mortgage interest and housing benefit in each of the last five years is not available.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in receipt of support for mortgage interest who were also in receipt of income-based jobseeker's allowance, reached the end of the two-year limit in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13, (e) 2013-14 and (f) 2014-15.

Justin Tomlinson: The information is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit: Mortgages

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in receipt of universal credit receive help with mortgage costs.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.Universal Credit (UC) does not currently accept claims from owner occupiers. Once this claimant group starts claiming UC we expect that the numbers of any potential owner occupiers making a claim to be small.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people who are in receipt of support for mortgage interest are also in receipt of (a) income-based jobseeker's allowance, (b) income-based employment and support allowance, (c) income support and (d) pension credit.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is in the table:2015/16Number of SMI claimsAs % of all SMI claimsJobseekers allowance16,00010%Employment and support allowance56,00034%Income support24,00014%Pension credit71,00043%Total167,000100%*The percentages may not sum to 100% due to roundingThese figures are from the DWP summer budget 2015 benefit expenditure and caseload tables, which can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2015

Supported Housing: Housing Benefit

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether 18 to21 year olds in supported housing services will still be able to claim housing benefit after April 2017.

Justin Tomlinson: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave the Rt Hon. Member for East Ham, Stephen Timms, on the 14 September 2015, to Question UNI 9834

Social Security Benefits: East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseekers who have registered disabilities in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow have been sanctioned in each of the last five years.

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseekers have been sanctioned in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow constituency in each of the last five years.

Priti Patel: The available information on JSA sanctions, including those with a disability (which refers to the disability status of the claimant undergoing a sanction and is self-recorded by the claimant) is published at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.html

Employment and Support Allowance: Cancer

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to mitigate the effect of changes in employment and support allowance for those diagnosed with cancer who have been placed in the Work-Related Activity Group.

Priti Patel: No existing claimants, including those diagnosed with cancer, will be affected by the change to the work-related activity component and we have already committed to providing £60m a year from 2016/17, rising to £100m a year by 2020/21 in new, practical support for claimants with limited capability for work to help them move closer to the labour market and, when they are ready, into work.

Employment and Support Allowance

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have not been able to request employment and support allowance paid at the assessment rate pending an appeal since March 2015.

Priti Patel: The information requested is not available.

Means-tested Benefits: Child Support

Craig Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will assess the costs and benefits of classifying parentally-agreed child support as income for means-tested benefits.

Priti Patel: In order to help encourage parents to take financial responsibility for their children and maximise the amount of maintenance that flows from the non-resident parent to the child, child maintenance payments made under the statutory scheme or through a family based arrangement are not treated as income for means tested benefits.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents have received a sanction for failure to comply with conditions for receipt of benefits because suitable childcare was not available to enable them to comply.

Priti Patel: The information as requested is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Trapping

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with shooting bodies on ensuring an effective trap is developed to replace the Fenn trap.

Rory Stewart: Defra officials have held discussions with representatives of the shooting bodies, trap manufacturers and retailers to discuss alternatives to the Fenn trap. Defra is in the process of approving a replacement trap and has funded testing on a further two traps.

Game: Birds

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an estimate of the effect on the rural economy of the reduction in grouse shooting caused by poor weather in 2015.

Rory Stewart: The Government has no plans to make an estimate of the effect the weather in 2015 has had on the grouse shooting industry and the rural economy.

Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to improve air quality at Heathrow Airport; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: Defra officials met with representatives from Heathrow Airport and the neighbouring Local Authorities to discuss the Heathrow Air Quality Action Plan as it was being developed. Since the Plan has been implemented regular meetings have taken place to understand the impacts of actions on local air quality.The Government has also recently consulted on plans to improve air quality in the UK. The plan for the Greater London Urban Area sets out actions required to meet the EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by 2025.

Veterinary Medicine: Nurses

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will assess the potential merits of providing legal protection to the professional title of veterinary nurse.

George Eustice: Only those individuals who are properly trained, qualified and registered with the regulator, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), may legally undertake veterinary nursing. The Government is aware that concerns have been raised about the legal protection of the use of the term “Veterinary Nurse” and we are in dialogue with the RCVS and others to see how these concerns might be addressed.

Primates: Pets

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the review of the Code of Practice for Privately Kept Non-Human Primates; and whether that review will include consultation with (a) members of the public and (b) animal welfare organisations.

George Eustice: Defra plans to review the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Privately Kept Non-human Primates next year. The review will include a consultation with industry, keepers, veterinarians and animal welfare organisations.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Families

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the family test on her Department's policies; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014. DWP published guidance for Departments and officials on how the test should be applied when formulating policy and my Department follows that guidance:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368894/family-test-guidance.pdf.The Family Test is an integral part of the policy making process and is applied in a proportionate way in the development of all new policy in line with the Family Test guidance.Where the test identifies impacts on the family, this will be evidenced as part of the formal published Impact Assessment, but at present no such impacts have been identified in Defra.

Public Footpaths: Coastal Areas

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the economic effect of the England Coast Path on each area through which opened sections of that path pass.

Rory Stewart: Annex 4 of the impact assessment which was prepared for the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 included a summary of the estimated social and economic benefits and costs of the coastal access provisions.The impact assessment noted that the average annual benefits to people who would make use of the improved access would be £12.35m. This figure would increase over time and from year 20 onwards was estimated at £25.8m per year. The benefits would include the improved health and wellbeing that access to the natural environment would bring. The impact assessment also noted that there would be a benefit to the coastal economy from increased spending in coastal areas where additional visitors were attracted to the area. The assessment suggested that the uplift from increased spending would be on average £6 – £9 per day visitor and £35 – £45 per overnight visitor.A copy of the impact assessment is available on the National Archive website.As the right of coastal access is implemented throughout England, Natural England will collect and evaluate national and local information about the social and economic benefits of new and improved access.

Common Agricultural Policy

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what cost was incurred by her Department as a result of the withdrawal of the CAP-D programme in March 2015.

George Eustice: CAP-D is a 10 year programme designed to enable the Department to implement the most recent CAP reforms. The programme was not withdrawn in March 2015. There had been some performance issues with the online interface that enables farmers to input data directly, but the core of the new Rural Payments system is working well. Over 88,000 farmers and agents have successfully registered on the system.

Birds of Prey: Conservation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what meetings her Department has had to ascertain whether birds of prey predate on other birds of prey in order to inform her policies on bird conservation.

Rory Stewart: Bird of prey predation on other birds of prey is considered rare, occurring occasionally through territorial contact or nest defence where there is inter-species competition for space. Consequently no Department meetings have taken place to discuss the matter.

Quarrying and Pest Control

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Government with the EU on charges for quarry spaces and pest control.

Rory Stewart: No discussions have been held with the EU about changes to the protection of quarry and pest control species.

Food Poverty: Yorkshire and the Humber

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will estimate the number of households affected by food insecurity in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley, (c) South Yorkshire and (d) Yorkshire and the Humber.

George Eustice: Defra does not estimate numbers of households experiencing food insecurity. There is no single definition of food insecurity. The factors that impact on household food security are complex and include economic, social and environmental issues.

Reservoirs

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on implementing those aspects of the Floods and Water Management Act 2010 applicable to smaller reservoirs.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to take further steps to implement those aspects of the Floods and Water Management Act 2010 applicable to smaller reservoirs.

Rory Stewart: In February 2015, Defra announced it had decided not to make further changes to the inspection regime for smaller reservoirs because, at that time, the evidence base would not support such changes.However, we are exploring potential further research which could provide additional evidence on the level of risk posed by smaller reservoirs.

Dairy Farming: Foreign Investment in UK

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government plans to take to encourage Chinese investors to invest in the UK dairy industry.

George Eustice: China is one of the UK’s priority markets for investment. The Government is providing increased funding to UKTI across its China network and in the UK. The state visit last month demonstrated China’s recognition that the UK is one of the most open markets in the world for foreign investment and there is significant appetite from Chinese companies to invest here.UKTI has a dedicated Food and Drink sector team and proactively works with potential Chinese investors. The UK offers Chinese investors strong proposals for milk powder, cheese (Cheddar) and butter production due to the vibrant dairy research sector, temperate climate and increasing milk production volumes.Last week the Secretary of State was in China supporting the Food is GREAT campaign there; dairy is a key focus area allowing participating British companies to meet potential Chinese investors and buyers looking to invest in the UK and source UK dairy products.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with the British Veterinary Association on the control of bovine TB.

George Eustice: Defra has frequent dealings with the British Veterinary Association on bovine TB matters. One example is the meeting with the Association’s President and CEO on 21 September to discuss a number of consultation exercises in progress at that time.

Public Footpaths: Coastal Areas

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the target date is for completion of the England Coast Path.

Rory Stewart: The coastal access programme has so far opened up 101 miles of our beautiful coastline for everyone to enjoy, boosting local tourism and growing the rural economy.The Government is working closely with Natural England to build on the progress already made, with the aim of completing the coastal path around England by 2020. We have approved Natural England’s coastal access proposals for a further 176 miles. By the end of this financial year we expect Natural England to have submitted proposals for another 349 miles and also to be working on proposals for an additional 986 miles.

Agriculture: Northern Ireland

Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what preparations her Department is making to support the agricultural economy in the Northern Ireland in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

George Eustice: The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation. We believe we can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU and campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis.

Bees

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the change in the bee population over the summer of 2015.

George Eustice: Records from volunteer societies provide a rich source of data and can be analysed to show how bee populations are changing. In 2014 Defra published a pilot indicator of changes in the wild bee population in the UK. This showed that between 1980 and 2010 some bee species had become more widespread, but that a greater number had become less so.Defra is working with the research community to improve and update this indicator on pollinators. However, there is currently insufficient data to provide an assessment of changes over the summer of 2015. We hope to update the indicator in future years.The Government continues to work to strengthen monitoring. In 2014 Defra commissioned a two-year project to develop a robust and affordable framework for monitoring pollinators, which can be applied by volunteers and professionals across the UK. This will report in early 2016.

Wildlife: Smuggling

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been (a) allocated and (b) spent as part the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund to date.

Rory Stewart: In December 2013, Defra and DFID announced that £10m of funding would be made available over the period 2014/15 - 2017/18 to help developing countries tackle the illegal wildlife trade, to be administered by Defra. In March 2015, the Secretary of State for International Development announced that an additional £3m would be made available for this purpose.Most of this funding, which is Official Development Assistance, is distributed through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.The first round of the UK Government’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund opened for applications in June 2014, and 19 successful projects were announced in December 2014. A list of these can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/382616/iwt-challenge-fund-project-funding.pdfTo date, £5.3 million has been allocated to projects under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. Projects submit claims against their allocations on a quarterly basis, and the total spent, as at the end of October, was £2.1 million.I announced the opening of a second round of applications in August. We expect to announce the successful projects from the second round early in the new year.

Birds: Conservation

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department plans to implement the Guidelines to Prevent the Risk of Poisoning to Migratory Birds adopted by the Eleventh Conference if the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in November 2014.

Rory Stewart: The UK has strict protection for migratory birds through existing statutory and policy provisions, noting our obligations under the EU Wild Birds Directive, as a Contracting Party to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), Rotterdam, Ramsar and Bern Conventions, and as a Signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Rural Payments Agency was not able to make advance basic payments from 16 October 2015.

George Eustice: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) remains focused on making full payments from December. The RPA is on track to make full payments on 2015 Basic Payment Scheme claims as soon as possible within the payment window, making the majority of payments in December and the vast majority by the end of January 2016.

Wildlife: Smuggling

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role the National Wildlife Crime Unit will play as part of the UK's commitment to Action on the Illegal Wildlife Trade from March 2016.

Rory Stewart: In the UK’s Commitment to Action on the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT), published in February 2014, the Government committed to “take a national strategic approach to domestic action on IWT through . . . . funding the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) until 2016”. Defra and the Home Office together have provided £544,000 for the NWCU over 2014-15 and 2015-16.Decisions on future funding of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit beyond March 2016 will be made as part of the current Spending Review process.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many CITES prosecutions have been brought in each of the last 10 years.

Rory Stewart: Defra does not hold information on prosecutions brought under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 1997 (COTES) which specify offences and penalties in the UK in respect of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).The Ministry of Justice has provided information on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts for offences under COTES, in England and Wales, from 2006 to 2014, in the table below.Some of these offences are recorded under a miscellaneous offence grouping, which it is only possible to analyse separately from centrally-held data from 2006 to 2008 and then 2011 onwards. The information required to split this miscellaneous grouping at offence level for 2004 to 2005 and from 2009 to 2010 (these latter two years are due to data processing issues) is held in individual court files, which can only be inspected at disproportionate cost.Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 1997, England and Wales, 2006 to 2014 (1) (2)200620072008 (3)2009201020112012201320141075##7111111(Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.)Offences relating to the illegal import and export of CITES-controlled species identified by Border Force may be prosecuted under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, which is the responsibility of the Home Office.'#' - Prosecution data is not separately identifiable for these years.(1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed.(2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.(3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.

Tree Planting

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has plans to encourage the planting of trees to enhance the visual amenity of farmland.

Rory Stewart: This Government is committed to planting 11 million trees over the course of this Parliament, creating 24,711 acres of new woodland. This will be delivered by £31m per year of new Rural Development Programme funding that will be spent on forestry. £13m will be spent on woodland management and £18m on new planting. Farmers and landowners will be eligible to apply for the scheme.

National Wildlife Crime Unit

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) wildlife crime investigations and (b) wildlife crime prosecutions the National Wildlife Crime Unit has been directly involved with since it was formed.

Rory Stewart: This information is not held centrally. The Government does however recognise the important work the National Wildlife Crime Unit does to help tackle wildlife crime, including through its work in gathering and developing wildlife crime intelligence and in providing direct specialist support for police forces throughout the UK.

Home Office

Visas: Syria

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many transit visas her Department issued to Syrian nationals in each year since 2010.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 06 November 2015



The information requested is provided in the table below:Entry clearance transit visas granted to Syrian nationalsYearGranted 2010722011422012502013412014202015 January-June9Source: Immigration Statistics April-June 2015, Home Office, tables vi_06_q_o.The latest quarterly Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas are published in ‘Immigration Statistics, April-June 2015’, available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics

Home Office: Correspondence

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on responding to correspondence from hon. Members by email rather than by letter.

James Brokenshire: UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) can confirm that it corresponds with hon. Members through informal channels such as email and telephone wherever possible as opposed to formal written correspondence.A recent MP satisfaction survey conducted by UKVI revealed that over 87% of respondents prefer informal channels of communication such as email or telephone rather than a formal letter response. This effective channel shift has improved the level of service that the department has provided to MPs.

Deportation: Appeals

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2015 to Question 11080, on Deportation: Appeals, how many of the 426 cases referred to have been heard in court.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 09 November 2015



Such data is not aggregated in national reporting systems, which would mean this question could only be answered through a disproportionately expensive manual case search to collate the data.

Deportation: Appeals

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people deported under the deport first, appeal later measures have successfully appealed against their deportation; how many of those people have returned to the UK; and of those people that have returned, what the length of time was that each such person spent outside the UK between their deportation and return.

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the length of time was that each person who successfully appealed against their deportation under the deport first, appeal later measures spent outside the UK.

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of foreign national offenders deported between July 2014 and August 2015 who returned to a country other than their country of nationality.

James Brokenshire: Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2015 to Question 11080, that there had been 13 successful appeals, the additional data requested is not available. Such data is not aggregated in national reporting systems, which would mean these questions could only be answered through a disproportionately expensive manual case search to collate the data.

Deportation: Appeals

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2015 to Question 11080, on deportation: appeals, how many appellants (a) had a legal representative at their panel and (b) gave evidence at the appeal via video link.

James Brokenshire: Such data is not aggregated in national reporting systems, which would mean these questions could only be answered through a disproportionately expensive manual case search to collate the data.

Entry Clearances: Bangladesh

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what impact assessment she has made of the proposed closure of the Visa and Entry Clearance Office in Dhaka; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Decision making on UK visa applications lodged in Bangladesh was moved from Dhaka to New Delhi in September 2014. An internal assessment of the potential impact was completed in early 2014 which covered various aspects including decision quality and customer service. UKVI retains a small team in the British High Commission, Dhaka to carry out the remote printing of visas and local checks.There has been, and will be, no change to the process for customers in Bangladesh. Customers are still able to apply in the same Visa Application Centres with applications being processed under the same global customer service standards of 15 working days.

Engineers and Scientists: Visas

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many scientists and engineers have been refused a Tier 2 (General) Certificate of Sponsorship because the annual cap had been reached since May 2010; which Standard Occupational Classification codes have been affected by that cap; and how many applications have been refused for each such code to date.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 10 November 2015



There were no Certificates of Sponsorship applications refused because of the annual cap between May 2010 and May 2015.For the period from June to October 2015, 55 applications for a CoS for an engineer role have been refused. No applications for a CoS for scientist roles have been refused.A full breakdown of the number of CoS refusals because of the annual cap, for each Standard Occupational Classification code has been produced as a separate document. I will place a copy of this document in the Library of the House of Commons.

Refugees: Calais

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of refugees and migrants living in Calais in each month of 2015; and how many refugees and migrants have had contact with the command and control centre the Government has established in Calais in each month of 2015.

James Brokenshire: The management of the migrant camps in Calais is the responsibility of the French Government. The French Government has recently stated that there are approximately 6,000 migrants living in makeshift camps in the Calais area. The UK Government does not routinely assess the numbers of migrants in Calais.The new joint command and control centre established in Calais enhances security operations through improved co-ordination between law enforcement agencies from the UK and France. Migrants do not routinely have direct contact with this centre.

Refugees: Sponsorship

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the requirements of the community sponsorship route to Britain for refugees are; and when she plans to establish that route.

James Brokenshire: As set out in the Home Secretary’s Conference speech, we will compile a register of people and organisations who can provide accommodation to those who come to UK as refugees and develop a community based sponsorship scheme, learning from schemes operated in countries like Australia and Canada to allow individuals, charities, faith groups, churches and businesses to support refugees directly.The Government will develop the options in discussion with interested parties, including faith groups and NGOs. It is important that we take the time to develop an effective scheme which best meets the needs of the vulnerable individuals resettled in the UK. The Government will provide Parliament with further detail in due course, following these discussions.

Business: Languages

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the efficiency of the work visa system in enabling UK businesses to have speedy access to the language skills they need for new markets.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 10 November 2015



Our visa system is set up to welcome skilled workers, entrepreneurs and investors. In the year ending June 2015, the number of work visas we issued increased by six percent, with skilled work visas up nine percent.UKVI continually assesses the efficiency of its customer offer. The average combined processing time for Tier 1 & Tier 2 category visas globally was 7 days in the year ending June 2015. In the same period, 97% of visas were issued within the standard 15 working days processing time.UKVI operates a number of services that make the visa process more accessible for businesses. These include priority and super-priority visa services, prime time opening hours and a business network with dedicated UK visa staff to assist businesses with their visa requirements.

Asylum: Judicial Review

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for judicial review against decisions on asylum applications made by UK Visas and Immigration have been brought in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: Whilst data relating to judicial reviews is available, I am unable to provide the information requested. Due to the way in which such data is captured, we are unable to separate the data relating solely to judicial reviews lodged against asylum decisions.

Refugees

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to relax immigration rules on the reunification of families and allow members of a refugee's extended family to join them in the UK.

James Brokenshire: Our refugee family reunion policy allows immediate family members of a person in the UK with refugee leave or humanitarian protection status - that is a spouse or partner and children under the age of 18, who formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country of origin - to reunite with them in the UK.We have no plans to widen these criteria, which are fully compliant with our international obligations and enable thousands of people each year to be reunited with their families in the UK.We are also making a significant contribution to support refugees and their families in other ways. The UK has contributed over £1 billion in humanitarian aid in response to the Syrian crisis and we intend to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees displaced to neighbouring countries over the lifetime of this Parliament.

Refugees: Syria

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what efforts are being made through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Scheme to assist refugees in (a) the Yazidi, Druze or Christian communities or (b) other communities who do not reside in the main refugee camps because of fears of religious persecution.

James Brokenshire: The UNHCR identifies people in need of resettlement based on the following criteria: women and girls at risk; survivors of violence and/or torture; refugees with legal and/or physical protection needs; refugees with medical needs or disabilities; children and adolescents at risk; persons at risk due to their sexual orientation or gender identity; and refugees with family links in resettlement countries. Individuals are not specifically identified for resettlement based on their membership of Yazidi, Druze, Christian or other communities but members of those communities may well meet one of the other vulnerability criteria set out by UNHCR.The UNHCR identifies and proposes Syrian refugees for the Vulnerable Persons Scheme scheme from among the whole of the registered refugee population in the region, over 4 million people. This includes people in formal refugee camps, informal settlements and host communities.

Immigration

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to provide (a) humanitarian visas, (b) facilitated refugee family reunion and (c) other safe legal routes for migrants to enter the UK.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 16 November 2015



There is no provision in our Immigration Rules for someone to be given a visa to travel to the UK to seek asylum or humanitarian protection and we have no plans to change this.However, we recognise that families may become fragmented because of the nature of conflict and persecution and the speed and manner in which those seeking asylum often flee their country of origin. Those granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK, are able to sponsor their pre-flight family members to join them under the family reunion policy.We also operate three discretionary resettlement schemes for recognised refugees for whom resettlement is the most appropriate answer. We operate these schemes in partnership with the UNHCR: Gateway; Mandate; and the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme.We are also making a significant contribution to support refugees and their families in other ways. The UK has contributed over £1 billion in humanitarian aid in response to the Syrian crisis and we intend to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees displaced to neighbouring countries over the lifetime of this Parliament under the VPR scheme.Migrants wishing to enter the UK for other reasons such as work or study can apply for a visa for that purpose. They will need to meet the requirements of the relevant Immigration Rule under which they apply in order to qualify for a visa. Details about the criteria and how to apply are available on gov.uk.

Visas: Investment

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will make an assessment of the implications for its policies of the report by Transparency International UK entitled, Gold Rush, published 15 October 2015; if her Department will retrospectively examine what transparency declarations can be required of existing investors who entered the UK on Tier 1 visas; what steps her Department takes to assess whether funds coming into the UK via those visas have been gained illicitly; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of strengthening those measures to address that issue.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 16 November 2015



The control of and provenance of the investment funds is central to the assessment of all Tier 1 (Investor) applications. In November 2014, we introduced new powers to refuse visa applications where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Tier 1 (Investor) migrant is not in control and at liberty to freely invest the funds; where the funds were obtained unlawfully; or where the character, conduct and associations of a third party providing the funds mean granting the application is not conducive to public good.To further strengthen the route against abuse, we now require all Tier 1 (Investor) migrants to have opened an account with a Financial Conduct Authority-regulated bank for the purposes of making their qualified investment. Additionally, if an investor is applying to enter the UK, then they must provide proof of criminal record checks. All Tier 1 (Investor) migrants are liable to have their leave to enter or remain curtailed in certain circumstances, for example if they are discovered to have used deception in seeking a grant of leave, or if they cease to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules. Those who are already in the route are subject to further checks on their investment and criminality when they make an extension or indefinite leave to remain application.We keep all immigration routes under review. We will make further changes to tackle abuse of the Tier 1 (Investor) route if required.

Asylum: Finance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential financial effect of proposals to deny refused asylum seekers access to financial support will have on (a) local authorities and (b) (i) homelessness, (ii) health and (iii) mental health service providers,

James Brokenshire: An assessment of the financial impact of the proposed changes to support for failed asylum seekers was published on 4 August and can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reforming-support-for-failed-asylum-seekers-and-other-illegal-migrants-impact-assessmentThe government has consulted widely on the proposals, which are now contained in Schedule 6 to the Immigration Bill published on 17 September, and is discussing the detail of how they will be implemented with local authorities and others. The financial impact of the changes will be reviewed in light of these discussions and reflected in a revised impact assessment.

British Nationality

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people renounced British citizenship in each year from 1997-98 to 2014-15.

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people subsequently resumed British citizenship after renouncing it in each year from 1997-98 to 2014-15.

James Brokenshire: The requested information regarding renunciations is provided in the following table.Renunciations of British citizenshipYearNumber of renunciations20021,194200375520046802005589200660120075832008537200956820105972011492201260920136022014614Source:Home Office: Immigration Statistics April-June 2015, cz_10The latest Home Office immigration statistics on grant of renunciations of British citizenship are published in ‘Immigration Statistics, April-June 2015’ table cz_10 for 2002 to 2014, available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics .Corresponding data for 2015 will be published on 21 May 2016.Information regarding people resuming British citizenship is not available.

British Nationality

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many nationals aged (a) between 15 and 64 and (b) over 65 from each non-EEA country were granted British citizenship in each year from 1997-98 to 2014-15.

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many nationals aged (a) between 15 and 64 and (b) over 65 from each EEA country were granted British citizenship in each year from 1997-98 to 2014-15.

James Brokenshire: The latest available Home Office immigration statistics on grants of British citizenship by age, sex, geographical region and year of grant are published in ‘Immigration Statistics, April-June 2015’ table cz_05 for 2002 to 2014, available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statisticsCorresponding data for 2015 will be published on 26 May 2016. Information is not available for periods prior to 2002.

Immigrants

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many nationals aged (a) between 15 and 64 and (b) over 65 from each non-EEA country were granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK in each year from 1997-98 to 2014-15.

James Brokenshire: The available data is provided in the table below:Grants of settlement on removal of time limit, by ageYearTotal GrantsChildren (under 16)16-6465+Age unknown2010234,70743,776188,5502,1861952011160,99430,405128,6901,845542012124,47321,958101,1601,336192013152,23824,235126,4331,557132014102,41315,42886,1788052Source:Home Office: Immigration Statistics April-June 2015, summary of data in table se_05Table notes:1. Excludes EEA nationals.2. Excludes a small minority of persons given settlement on arrival (1,644 in 2014)The latest Home Office immigration statistics on grants of settlement (permanent residence) by age are published in ‘Immigration Statistics, April-June 2015’, available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics .Corresponding data for 2015 will be published on 25 August 2016.

Asylum: EU Law

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have sought asylum in the UK through the Dublin III regulation.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 16 November 2015



The Home Office received 2122 asylum claims following a request for claimants to be accepted under the Dublin III regulations. This figure is based on the latest available data from January 2014 to June 2015.

Asylum: EU Law

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the publically available guidance entitled, Third Country cases: Referring and Handling refers to EC No 343/2003 and not EC No 604/2013.

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the publicly available version of Chapter 28 of the Enforcement and Instructions Guidance refers to EC No 343/2003 and not EC No 604/2013.

James Brokenshire: The publicly available guidance on Third Country cases and the Enforcement and Instructions Guidance that refer to the Dublin Regulation are both under review and will be published shortly. Training on the Dublin Regulation in EU No. 604/2013 has been provided to Home Office officials dealing with Third Country cases.

Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has conducted an investigation into how Demie Omol was able to travel through the UK to the Republic of Ireland; and what steps she is taking to prevent further victims of trafficking being similarly transported by the same agents and through the same routes.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 16 November 2015



We do not routinely comment on individual cases. With regard to onward travel through the UK, we have rolled out Safeguarding and Trafficking teams at a number of major UK ports so that trained officers can help identify victims, disrupt organised criminal groups, collect intelligence and provide a point of expertise and guidance for other frontline officers.With regard to Ireland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland also works closely with An Garda Siochana on an operational basis to tackle cases of suspected cross border human trafficking and exploitation.

Emergency Calls: Standards

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average response time to a 999 call for the emergency services was in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) the Yorkshire and the Humber region and (c) the UK in each year from 2010 to 2015.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not hold these data centrally. Data on 999 response times for the police may be held by individual police forces.Similarly, the Home Office does not hold data on response times for other 999 emergency services. NHS England publish monthly performance statistics, which include ambulance response times. These can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/2015/10/08/combined-performance-summary-august-2015/DCLG publish statistics on fire incident response times, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-incidents-response-times

UK Visas and Immigration: Email and Telephone Services

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to make the email and telephone inquiry service within UK Visa and Immigration more user-friendly.

James Brokenshire: UKVI Contact Centres currently handle approximately 34000 calls and 15000 emails a week from customers both in and outside the UK. We continuously review our processes and use customer feedback to inform any changes made.UKVI Contact Centres currently answer over 90% of all calls within an average 1:18 minutes and respond to 100% of emails within the published service standards.The latest customer survey returned a high satisfaction rating of 85%.

Danny Major

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with West Yorkshire Police on the review commissioned by the Office of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, and conducted by Greater Manchester Police, into the conviction of Mr Danny Major.

Mike Penning: Holding answer received on 16 November 2015



The Home Secretary cannot comment on individual cases. This remains a matter for the Office of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and West Yorkshire Police.

Exclusion Orders

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what grounds her Department refused entry to the UK to (a) Dr Hasnaa Al Sourani, (b) Dr Amal Shaat, (c) Dr Rula Al Helo and (d) Mr Yousif Abu Rahma; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 16 November 2015



In order to safeguard an individual’s personal information and comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 the Home Office is limited in what information it can provide when the request is made by someone who is not the applicant. The Home Office is therefore unable to provide the information requested.All applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the Immigration Rules.

Homicide: Domestic Violence

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many murders related to domestic violence there have been in each year between 1997 and 2014.

Mike Penning: The available information is given in the table and is taken from the Home Office Homicide Index.Data are based on the number of homicides where the victim’s relationship to the principal suspect was partner or ex-partner.Table A: Offences currently recorded as domestic homicide1,2, 1997/98 to 2013/14England and WalesRelationship to principal suspectPartner/ex-partnerNumber of victims1997/981311998/991051999/001122000/011272001/021462002/031362003/041222004/051452005/061132006/071202007/081102008/091352009/101142010/111182011/121072012/13932013/14108Source: Homicide Index, Home Office 1. As at 5 November 2014; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.2. Offences where the victim's relationship to principal suspect is 'spouse (including civil partner), cohabiting partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, ex-spouse/ex-cohabiting partner/ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, adulterous relationship, lover’s spouse or emotional rival' are shown.

Refugees: Republic of Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with the government of the Irish Republic on the number of refugees likely to be settled in the Irish Republic who would be eligible to subsequently move to the UK.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 16 November 2015



There are no plans to hold discussions with the government of the Irish Republic on the number of refugees who would be eligible to subsequently move to the UK. Those recognised as refugees in the Republic of Ireland require a visa under the Immigration Rules to enter the UK.

South Wales Police: Finance

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when and by what method she informed South Wales Police of the errors in calculating the police funding formula.

Mike Penning: The Minister of State for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Victims made a statement to the House on Monday 9 November on this issue. Ministers were informed of this issue on Friday 6 November.

Common Travel Area

Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy that the Common Travel Area be maintained in the event that Great Britain and Northern Ireland leave the EU.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 16 November 2015



Our focus is the reform of the EU and the Prime Minister clearly set out in his speech on 10 November and his letter to the President of the European Council, the issues where we are seeking change. We recognise the important economic and social benefits of the Common Travel Area, and our priority is to strengthen the external border of the Common Travel Area through collaboration with Ireland and the Crown dependencies, to ensure the benefits of the Common Travel Area can be preserved whilst maintaining a secure border.

Cannabis

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the evidential basis which shows that cannabis is harmful, cited in the Government response to the epetition, We demand the British Government reschedule cannabis.

Mike Penning: The government relies on the evidence of the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, whose most recent report on cannabis, Cannabis Classification and Public Health, concluded that cannabis is a “significant public health issue and can unquestionably cause harm to individuals and society”. The full report can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acmd-cannabis-classification-and-public-health-2008.

Refugees: EU Countries

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that refugees can be settled in Europe without making dangerous journeys by boat.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 16 November 2015



The UK operates several national resettlement schemes which resettle refugees directly from the regions. The Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme has been expanded and will now resettle 20, 000 Syrians. These schemes provide refugees with a direct and safe route to the UK, rather than risking the hazardous journey to Europe. Resettlement is an important part of any well managed asylum system and we encourage other EU countries to resettle those most in need.

Interception Warrants

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances a judge could refuse to approve an interception warrant under clause 19(2) of the draft Investigatory Powers Bill.

Mr John Hayes: A Judicial Commissioner may refuse to approve any warrant that they believe does not meet the test set out by Judicial Review principles. Judicial Review principles are well established, tested and have been applied by the courts for a long time. The Judicial Commissioner will consider whether the Secretary of State’s decision was reasonable, lawful, made fairly, and whether it complies with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Judicial Commissioner’s consideration will include a review of the Secretary of State’s conclusions on necessity and proportionality. The Judicial Commissioner will have final say on whether a warrant can be issued.

MI5: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to improve parliamentary oversight of the Security Service.

Mr John Hayes: The Justice and Security Act 2013 has already significantly strengthened the Parliamentary oversight of the Security Service and the other intelligence agencies. The Act expanded the powers of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) by enabling it to oversee operational activities of significant national interest retrospectively, and denying Agency heads the ability to withhold information from the Committee on the grounds of sensitivity. Significant additional resources have also been provided to the ISC.

Migration

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the likelihood of the Government's net migration target being met.

James Brokenshire: Uncontrolled mass immigration increases pressure on public services and can drive down wages. That is why our ambition remains to cut net migration to sustainable levels. We continue to work across government to reduce net migration outside of the EU and seek reform in Europe to reduce the pull factor behind EU migration.

Police: Finance

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on changing the police funding formula.

Mike Penning: Current police funding arrangements are complex, opaque and out of date. This reflects views put forward by PCCs, police forces and Committees of this House. It is essential that we come to a new funding formula that is fair, transparent and matched to demand - but also one that is supported by policing as a whole. However, we have listened to the views of policing partners and are minded to delay the proposed changes to the formula for 2016/17.

Police: Finance

Suella Fernandes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on changing the police funding formula.

Mike Penning: Current police funding arrangements are complex, opaque and out of date. This reflects views put forward by PCCs, police forces and Committees of this House. It is essential that we come to a new funding formula that is fair, transparent and matched to demand - but also one that is supported by policing as a whole. However, we have listened to the views of policing partners and are minded to delay the proposed changes to the formula for 2016/17.

Police

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that police forces are able to maintain existing levels of frontline policing over the next five years.

Mike Penning: Ultimately, decisions on the size and composition of a police force’s workforce are for individual chief officers and Police and Crime Commissioners. The police have demonstrated that, with reform, it is possible to deliver more for less and to prioritise available resource at the frontline.

Domestic Violence

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle domestic violence.

Karen Bradley: Tackling domestic violence is a key priority for this Government.We have created a new offence of domestic abuse, we are making improvements to the police response and this year provided over £20m to fund specialist domestic and sexual violence services, national helplines and refuges.

Asylum: Finance

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of changes to support for asylum seekers on local authority services.

James Brokenshire: The Immigration Bill reforms support for failed asylum seekers and other illegal migrants. It restricts the availability of support, consistent with our international and human rights obligations, and removes incentives to remain in the UK illegally. The measures have been subject to public consultation and will be subject to a new burdens assessment.

Ministry of Defence

War Memorials: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to ensure the full participation of the Northern Ireland Executive and people in memorialising UK servicemen and civilians who have died in conflict.

Mark Lancaster: While the Ministry of Defence makes every effort to ensure that those who have died as a result of conflict are remembered and honoured, it is for local communities to decide on their own memorials to the fallen as they see fit.Nationally, the names of all Servicemen who lost their lives on operations are recorded on the Memorial Wall at the National Arboretum.

Air Force: Holiday Leave

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel from 13 and 39 Squadron have not taken their full entitlement to annual leave over the last two years.

Mark Lancaster: The number of Service personnel from 13 and 39 Squadrons who have not taken their full annual leave entitlement of 38 days over the last two years is given below:2013-14Number of personnel2014-15Number of personnel39 Squadron5639 Squadron4713 Squadron6713 Squadron69Up to a maximum of 15 of the 38 days can be carried forward to the next leave year.More than 90% of Service personnel from 13 and 39 Squadrons have taken 28 or more days leave during the last two years.

Air Force: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many referrals for treatment for post traumatic stress disorder from 13 and 39 Squadron service personnel there have been over the last two years.

Mark Lancaster: During Financial Years 2013-14 and 2014-15, there were no Regular Royal Air Force personnel from 13 Squadron or 39 Squadron who were seen for an initial assessment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at Ministry of Defence Specialist Mental Health Services.

USSR: Intelligence Services

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has been provided with a copy of the US President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board report of 15 February 1990, entitled The Soviet 'War Scare', by the US administration.

Penny Mordaunt: The document referred to by the hon. Member is available in redacted version over the internet. This Department has no record of receiving a copy from the United States administration.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: EU Law

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which regulations his Department introduced as a result of EU legislation in (a) 2013, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015 to date; which regulations his Department expects to implement as a result of EU legislation in (i) 2016 and (ii) 2017; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such regulation to the (A) public purse and (B) private sector.

David Mundell: I refer the hon Member to the answer given by my Rt hon Friend the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise (Anna Soubry) on 11 November 2015.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Power Stations: Closures

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which power plants are due to come offline in March 2016; and what plans she has to ensure peak energy demands are met after those plants come offline.

Andrea Leadsom: The following plants have announced that they will no longer be connected to the Transmission Grid from April 2016:Eggborough;Ferrybridge;Longannet.These withdrawals have been announced over the past year. It is possible that they may still be available for winter 16/17 if they choose to bid, and are successful, in National Grid’s Supplemental Balancing Reserve. It should also be noted that these withdrawals are partly offset by new or increased thermal generation during 2016 from Wilton and Keadby CCGT plants. A large amount of renewable generation is also due to enter the market in 2016.Our priority is to ensure that British families and business have access to secure affordable energy supplies that they can rely on and we are taking prudent steps to manage the margins in winter 2016/17. Since 2014 National Grid have had the ability to procure a Contingency Balancing Reserve (CBR), which consists of the Supplemental Balancing Reserve (SBR), where existing power stations stand by ready to generate additional electricity and the Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR) where companies bid for contracts with National Grid to receive payments in return for reducing their electricity usage times of peak demand should National Grid so require. National Grid and Ofgem agree that we should retain the ability to procure CBR for the next two winters. Government supports this position and we expect confirmation later this month following an Ofgem consultation. Beyond winter 2017/18, the Capacity Market will take over as the long term solution for security of supply.

Fracking

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to prevent shale gas drilling at the surface in areas of the greatest environmental value.

Andrea Leadsom: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Southampton Test on 11 November 2015 to Written Parliamentary Question 15221:http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-11-06/15221.

Northern Ireland Office

Electricity Interconnectors: Republic of Ireland

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with (a) the Northern Ireland Executive's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and (b) her counterpart in the Republic of Ireland on steps to ensure the proposed North-South electricity interconnector is delivered.

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations she has made to planning authorities in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland on the proposed 400kV North-South electricity interconnector between County Tyrone and County Meath.

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment the Government has made of the risks to the security of electricity supply in Northern Ireland posed by the failure to build and have operational by 2020 the 400kV North-South electricity interconnector between County Tyrone and County Meath.

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the Government's policy is on the proposed 400kV North-South electricity interconnector between County Tyrone and County Meath.

Mr Ben Wallace: Non-nuclear energy policy is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the responsibility of Northern Ireland Executive Ministers.

House of Commons Commission

Palace of Westminster: Repairs and Maintenance

Craig Mackinlay: To ask the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will take steps to ensure the inclusion in budgetary provisions for a programme to restore and renew the Palace of Westminster proposals for commemorating Augustus Pugin at St Augustine's Church, Ramsgate.

Tom Brake: It would go beyond the statutory remit of the House of Commons Commission to make budgetary provision for the project in Ramsgate. However, the Commission is well aware of the contribution that Augustus Welby Pugin made to the design of the Palace of Westminster and is delighted that it was possible last year to donate some original encaustic tiles from the Palace for public display in St. Augustine’s Church.

Department of Health

Endometriosis

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating endometriosis in the last year.

Jane Ellison: This information is not collected centrally.

Heart Diseases: Blood Tests

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to make the innovative blood test to rule out heart attacks available on the NHS.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the level of variation in survival rates for people who have had cardiac arrests between regions in England.

Jane Ellison: The findings of early research into a new blood test to diagnose heart attack are encouraging, but more research is needed to establish how effective the test is.Commissioning for Value has produced Cardiovascular Disease Commissioning for Value focus packs. The packs are comprised of national benchmarked data for heart disease and stroke which is used to understand variation across the pathway for each clinical commissioning group in England to help improve cardiovascular disease commissioning. The packs can be found at:http://www.yhpho.org.uk/default.aspx?RID=199884In addition, the NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare aims to reduce unwarranted variation to increase value and improve quality and has produced maps on heart disease, which can be found at:http://www.rightcare.nhs.uk/atlas/maps/Atlas_290915_Cardio.pdf

First Aid

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to raise awareness of (a) CPR and (b) other life-saving methods among adults and young people.

Jane Ellison: Following the 2015 Budget commitment on defibrillators, we have awarded the British Heart Foundation £1 million to make public access defibrillators and coronary pulmonary resuscitation training more widely available in communities across England.More information can be found on the British Heart Foundation’s website:https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/nation-of-lifesavers/about-defibrillators/apply-for-a-defibrillator-in-englandIn addition, Department of Health officials worked with officials from the Department for Education last year on the development of an initiative to allow schools to buy defibrillators at a reduced price. The British Heart Foundation, which supports the initiative, is also offering free cardiopulmonary resuscitation training kits to all secondary schools as part of its Nation of Lifesavers campaign.

Breast Cancer: Research

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether (a) officials of his Department, (b) representatives of NHS bodies or (c) researchers funded by his Department will be attending the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in November 2015.

George Freeman: No officials from the Department plan to attend San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December 2015. The Department does not hold information centrally on planned attendance at this event by NHS representatives or researchers supported fully or in part by funding from the Department.

Sugar

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of Public Health England's report, Sugar reduction: the evidence for action, published in October 2015.

Jane Ellison: We are considering the evidence and advice in Public Health England’s report Sugar Reduction: The evidence for action, along with other areas for potential action, as we develop our childhood obesity strategy which will be published in the new year.

Obesity: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve oral health as part of the childhood obesity strategy.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve children's oral health in England through (a) diet and (b) other methods.

Jane Ellison: Our comprehensive childhood obesity strategy, due to be published in the new year, will be looking at areas for potential action including diet and sugar consumption which are risk factors in poor oral health and tooth decay.The Department is working with NHS England to test a possible new dental contract which will increase access and improve oral health. Building on earlier pilots we are about to move to a new stage of testing by establishing prototypes. The new dental prototypes will continue to test a clinical care pathway focussed on preventing future dental disease. This approach includes offering patients personalised care plans and advice to both patients and parents on diet and good oral hygiene.In 2014 Public Health England (PHE) published an evidence informed toolkit for local authorities to support their work on oral health improvement among children and young people. PHE also published an evidence based toolkit for dental teams to support preventive advice and treatment for their patients. These toolkits include oral health improvement programmes and advice focussing on a healthier diet and reducing the consumption of free sugars.In addition these toolkits include other methods to improve oral health, for example tooth brushing programmes and fluoride varnish application.The PHE report Local authorities improving oral health: commissioning better oral health for children and young people: An evidence-informed toolkit for local authorities is attached and can be found at:www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321503/CBOHMaindocumentJUNE2014.pdfThe PHE report Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention is attached and can be found at:www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/367563/DBOHv32014OCTMainDocument_3.pdf



Improving oral health
(PDF Document, 1.93 MB)




Delivering better oral health
(PDF Document, 2.07 MB)

Breast Cancer: Research

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has conducted into the likelihood of people who get primary breast cancer twice getting secondary breast cancer.

George Freeman: The Department does not itself conduct research, and has not funded research on this specific topic.

Heart Diseases: Drinks

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with the Royal College of Nursing on links between the consumption of carbonated drinks and the incidence of heart failure.

Jane Ellison: There have been no recent discussions with the Royal College of Nursing on the links between the consumption of carbonated drinks and the incidence of heart failure.

Cancer: Drugs

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects NHS England to publish the first and second quarter figures for Cancer Drugs Fund notifications and individual Cancer Drugs Fund requests for 2015-16; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: The information for the first quarter of 2015-16 was published on NHS England’s website on 10 November 2015 and is available at:www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/Information for the second quarter is currently being finalised and NHS England expects to publish this in the near future.

Cancer: Drugs

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2015 to Question 10091, what the implications for his policies are of the decision by NHS England to remove (a) the pancreatic cancer drug Abraxane and (b) 22 other drugs and indications from the Cancer Drugs Fund List.

George Freeman: We remain committed to continuing to invest in the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).NHS England is responsible for the operational management of the Fund. Following appeals and further discussions with pharmaceutical companies, 18 drug and indication combinations, including Abraxane for pancreatic cancer, were removed from the national CDF list on 4 November 2015.

Department of Health: Families

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to implement the family test; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Department of Health has liaised with the Department for Work and Pensions as the lead Department for the Family Test to embed it and encourage routine use of the Test. This has included training officials on applying the Test, disseminating relevant evidence, learning materials and best practice.The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials - Family Test Guidance.The objective of the Test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit.The Department of Health is working to raise awareness of the Family Test amongst its policy staff, so that the impact of policy on the family is considered as a matter of course. We have highlighted the Family Test through the Policy Kit, an online resource for Department of Health policy officials. The Family Test is also highlighted in policy induction training, which is available to staff who are new to policy roles in Department of Health.

Exercise

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to fully integrate physical activity into the care pathways of all long-term conditions where it has a proven beneficial effect.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published various pieces of guidance covering long-term conditions, and this guidance promotes physical activity where is it shown to have a beneficial effect.In addition to this, Public Health England (PHE) has highlighted the important role of physical activity in the prevention, treatment and management of many long-term conditions in Everybody Active Every Day, a national evidence-based framework for action to reduce inactivity in England launched in 2014.Since then there has been sustained action to support the integration of physical activity into clinical practice.This has included:- The launch of a new set of teaching resources designed to integrating into the curriculum on physical activity for medical, nursing and allied health professional university departments. To date these have been taken up by 15 United Kingdom medical schools, 4 UK Schools of Health (dietetics/physio/OT and AHPs) and 5 international schools of Allied Health Professionals;- The launch of a series of nine e-learning modules on physical activity in the treatment and prevention of long term conditions on the BMJ E-learning platform alongside e-learning on Motivational interviewing techniques, funded by PHE;- The launch of a new info-graphic to support healthcare professionals to understand and put into practice the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines on physical activity for adults, a further graphic is in development to support the guidelines for children and young people;- An expanded pilot of the general practitioner clinical champion programme by PHE;- Continued work with the Richmond group of charities who are building on the work of Macmillan and Breakthrough Breast Cancer to support integration of physical activity into clinical practice and care pathways and also raise the understanding amongst the third sector and wider communities of its important role; and- Continued work with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Chartered Institute of Physiotherapists and other professional bodies to raise the awareness across the profession, and ensuring that physical activity is considered as a key part of the Making Every Contact Count approach across health and social care.Further work is being considered for 2016/17 around how better to support the commissioning of evidence-based exercise referral programmes for specific conditions as recommended by NICE.

Alzheimer's Disease: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that Alzheimer drugs for use at home cost less than £2,100 per year.

George Freeman: There are voluntary and statutory schemes in place between the Government and branded and generic manufacturers to ensure, in the main, the National Health Service obtains the best value from the purchasing of medicines.

Mental Illness: Jobseeker's Allowance

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on support for people with mental health conditions who claim jobseeker's allowance.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Secretary of State for Health met on 3 June this year where they agreed to greater cross government working between our respective Departments. Both Departments have established a joint working unit and next year will launch a range of voluntary mental health and employment pilots to support claimants with, or at risk of developing a mental health condition to retain and return to employment.

Pharmacy: Greater London

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of pharmacy services in central London outside working hours.

George Freeman: NHS England is responsible for commissioning NHS services from community pharmacies taking account of the local pharmaceutical needs assessment that is published by the Health and Wellbeing Board for each area. The pharmaceutical needs assessments reflect all NHS pharmaceutical services including hours of opening. 99% of the population can get to a pharmacy within 20 minutes by car and 96% by walking or using public transport and access is greater in areas of highest deprivation Across London there are 1,851 community pharmacies. Of these, 255 are open 70 hours or more, including 103 open for 100 hours a week. In Westminster alone there are six 100 hour pharmacies.

Health Services: Weather

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what additional financial support he plans to make available to the NHS to deal with pressure on services in winter 2015-16.

Mr Jeremy Hunt: £400 million in resilience money has been invested in the National Health Service for this winter. Learning from previous years, we have put this money into the NHS baseline for 2015/16 so that the NHS can plan effectively at an earlier stage.There will be no further additional money for the NHS ahead of winter.

Drugs: Licensing

Joanna  Cherry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve the availability of off-patent drugs for novel uses through non-legislative measures.

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve the availability of off-patent drugs for novel uses through non-legislative measures.

George Freeman: Clinicians can already prescribe off-patent drugs off-label on clinical grounds if they judge this is the right thing to do to meet the individual clinical needs of their patients.The Government is keen to accelerate the adoption of innovative medicines and increase the innovative use of existing medicines where the evidence reports clinical benefits and cost effectiveness to patients. To that end, we are seeking a number of initiatives to provide innovation but whilst supporting the aims of the Private Member’s Bill on this subject, we do not believe the proposed mechanism is either practicable and desirable.We are working with NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the General Medical Council and the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency to ensure that there is better information available to support clinicians who wish to prescribe off-patent drugs for off-label indications, and to ensure that new evidence is picked up more quickly and reliably and translated into clinical practice and can be fed through into licensing applications.A huge amount of work is also going on in the Accelerated Access Review which will support the “pull” of innovation through to clinical practice.As part of the debate on the Access to Medical Treatments Bill, we are working with officials in the Department, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the Health and Social Care Information Centre to see how the power in the Bill, if it were to pass, could address the lack of provision of information on new uses for existing medicines via the power to create a database of innovations in order to support evidence-based prescribing.